Lent Begins

Today is Ash Wednesday.  I have been contemplating on how to approach this topic in my blog and decided to begin with the definition of Ash Wednesday from Wikipedia.

This is what it says: For the Western Christian calendar, Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and occurs forty-six days (forty days not counting Sundays) before Easter.

Ash Wednesday gets its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of the faithful as a sign of repentance. The ashes used are gathered after the Palm Crosses from the previous year's Palm Sunday are burned. In the liturgical practice of some churches, the ashes are mixed with the Oil of the Catechumens^[1] (one of the sacred oils used to anoint those about to be baptized), though some churches use ordinary oil. This paste is used by the minister who presides at the service to make the sign of the cross, first upon his or her own forehead and then on those of congregants. The minister recites the words: "Remember (O man) that you are dust, and to dust you shall return", or "Repent, and believe the Gospel."

I did not grow up nor have we started to practice the Catholic faith, but I do think the Church has a lot of good aspects and Lent is one of those things that I have chosen to participate in.

While growing I had a few friends that were Catholic and I learned about Lent through the years.  I never fully understood it.  Then in high school a girlfriend and I decided to give up sweets for Lent.  It was very hard.  I seem to have remembered a different 40 days than my parents did because they said I was miserable to be with!!!  I didn't remember it being QUITE as bad as they say, but either way, it was NOT fun.  But I did stick with it and as a reward, on Easter Sunday, my bestest friend and I went to Applebees and had a Blondie.... man! that was AWESOME!  I remember the yummy dessert still to this day!

Over the last month I had been conflicted about whether to participate in Lent and what to give up.  I didn'tt really WANT to give up anything, but I felt compelled to do it.  The obvious choice were sweets, the computer, etc.  Since so much of my "job" revolves around the computer, that wouldn't work, so I tried to quiet the small voice that said "give up sweets"!  Once I told Hubbie aloud that I was thinking of giving up sweets, I couldn't go back.  I had already voiced it and I needed to follow through.  Over the last week or two, I have been preparing myself mentally for not being able to eat sweets and desserts.  I plan to take it a little further than some might.  I hope to not "cheat" on the weekends and go the full time between Ash Wednesday and Easter without any sweets.  I also hope to not limit it to just desserts, but also sugary foods such as pop tarts, granola bars, etc.

I received an email from Thomas Nelson publishing a day or two ago.  This is what was sent to me and sort of summed up what I had been thinking and how I wish to view this 40 days :

Stop. Take a deep breath. Reflect...it's Lent.


Since the earliest days of the church, Christians have prepared for Easter by observing Lent. Lent is much more than a time to give up unhealthy foods or bad habits; it's an opportunity to unplug from our regular patterns, look truthfully at ourselves, and approach God with repentance and gratitude.


This year, we invite you to take the time to deepen your understanding of God’s love by reflecting on Dr. Larry Crabb's new book, 66 Love Letters: A Conversation with God that Invites You into His Story.  

Thomas Nelson publishing is offering a daily email that will reflect upon the 40 days of Lent.  I signed up for this and hope to use this 40 days just as they have described- a time to reflect and draw closer to the Lord.  To get this daily email, go here.


I invite you to join me in giving up something that you love and becoming closer to God through prayer.  I always remember this as an explanation of how to practice Lent.  The time you spent doing whatever you gave up- spend in prayer.  I didn't typically spent oodles of time sitting around eating sweets, but I do think this will be a very difficult test of willpower!  I am use to eating whatever I want to it....  within reason of course.... so we will see if I can rely on God to take away the desires for sweets and to replace it with a desire for the Word of God.